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Monday, March 15, 2010

March......

This has been a very sad month for me...this March......I've always heard for March "In like a lion out like a lamb". I used to think the quote was for the weather....but this year I'm not so sure. Perhaps it could be for one's life as well. At any rate I'm waiting on the "lamb" part of it. Today has hit me pretty hard and has taken a lot for me to get "motivated" I really don't think I've gotten there even as I type. I did "have" to go outside for something and thought it would be a good thing to check on things outside, I took my camera "just incase". I did find a few things that lifted my spirits........... The "girls" have plenty of water, I love my honeybees......
My coriander/parsley is looking so good, enjoying these still cold days and nights. The pansy's add a colorful touch.
Most of you that know me know that I'm a "nut" for nature. If you look closely you can see tadpoles in these next pictures. Click on the pic to get a better look. I live on a much loved dirt road and the ditches fill up with water and tadpoles....baby frogs. Well, the water started drying up and the rescue part of me kicked in. I keep an old aquarium around so I filled it with what tadpoles I could. I also have a very small fish pond that I put some in as well.

Have you ever watched a tadpole develop into a frog??? Have your children? Grandchildren???
It's an amazing thing to watch, although it can take a while.


TTFN!
And remember......
Explore the "life" around you!
Julie


Saturday, March 6, 2010

Red and a Day of Sprouting

Remember "Red"? The hen that I thought was twitter pated and wouldn't come out of the coop box because of heart break???? Well, she came up missing about three evenings ago when I did the nightly head count. I was furious because I thought the dog down the road had made off with her. Well, I don't know where she had been hiding out but she appeared this morning and made my day!!! She was scratching around like she had never been gone, and she probably hadn't. The last two days have been hectic around here and I was away for most of both days, so I had not noticed her and hadn't let the others out to free range. But, today I noticed and I let the others out to free range while I did some much needed yard work and planting!!! Finally! Not only that, I discovered some sprouting going on!

My potatoes are sprouting! I planted them in five gallon buckets to regulate the amount of rain that they could get. I did this last year and was pleased with the results.

This beauty was waiting for me today in my green house. I couldn't believe they lived straight through the winter. I planted them last year and harvested bell peppers from them over the summer, then when the cold came in I put them in the green house with my other plants and they survived! Even produced!

This is my parsley, I have tomato seeds planted in the middle. This worked for me very well last year.
According to the almanac, today was my last day to plant above ground plants until the 15th of this month. Root crops can be planted again on the 10th.
I discovered that my lettuce and radish had also sprouted as well as onions and garlic.
Today was a very enjoyable day indeed!
I also planted more crops today, brussel sprouts, cucumbers, egg plant, pumpkin, (Penny's)loofa, yellow squash, zucchini squash, tomatoes (large and cherry) and spinach. I also planted flower seeds for our honeybees. Today was a full day, I also got pictures of our girls (bees) but those pics will be on their blog.

Of course, when I went to close the chickens up one was missing again....Ms. Red! This time I knew she was here somewhere because I had been out all day and the neighbors dog hadn't been around, so I went on an even more extensive search for her...........
There she was under the house in a place I couldn't see her the first evening she came up missing. She was sitting all comfy until I shone the spot light on her, by the time I got my camera she got up, upset that I found her. I thought first that she had gone broody and was laying on eggs, but she isn't. I don't know why she has decided to leave the flock, she mingled with them all day today while they were free ranging. The part of the yard she is in is fenced so I just let her stay where she is. It's also under our bedroom so if something gets after her we can get out in time to save her........I hope:}
I would say this has been a full day indeed!
What kind of day did you have???

TTFN!
Julie